Home
Telehealth has rapidly transitioned from a marginal, underutilised service to a cornerstone of the Australian healthcare system. Over the past decade—particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic—virtual care has reshaped how millions of Australians access medical advice, treatment, and ongoing support. This transformation has brought enduring change to clinical practice, patient choice, health equity, and system-wide efficiency. Men’s health has benefitted significantly from incorporation of these telehealth services into the healthcare sector.
Table of Contents
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth refers to the delivery of healthcare services using digital communication technologies. In practice, this includes clinical consultations via telephone or video conferencing, remote monitoring of patient health data, and the asynchronous sharing of medical information (such as imaging or test results) between providers. It enables patients to interact with healthcare professionals via a telehealth company without physically visiting a clinic or hospital, offering flexibility for appointments, follow-ups, and chronic condition management.
The Evolution of Telehealth in Australia
Before 2020, telehealth existed in Australia but was a niche service. Medicare rebates for video consultations were limited in scope—primarily restricted to patients in rural and remote areas, with strict conditions requiring previous in-person visits. Uptake was minimal; telehealth accounted for less than 1% of consultations.
Everything changed with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, the federal government dramatically expanded Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items, adding phone and video consultations for a broad range of services and making them universally available to all Australians, regardless of location. These changes were initially temporary but have since been made permanent, cementing telehealth’s place in everyday care.
Scale and Adoption
The uptake of telehealth in Australia has been extraordinary. Millions of consultations have now been delivered via phone and video, and telehealth constitutes a significant share of overall Medicare-funded services. In 2023:
- Nearly one in five Medicare-funded GP consultations were conducted via telehealth (about 19.4%), with the vast majority by phone.
- Over 10% of specialist consultations were provided through remote means.
- About 27.7% of Australians reported using telehealth in the past year.
Between 2020 and 2022, more than 118 million telehealth services were delivered to approximately 18 million patients, reflecting its widespread adoption across the population.
Benefits of Telehealth
1. Improved Access to Care
Telehealth has broken down geographic barriers, particularly benefiting people in rural and remote communities where access to specialist care is limited. By eliminating long travel times and logistical hurdles, virtual consultations make healthcare more reachable for those who might otherwise delay or forego care.
2. Convenience and Efficiency
Patients save time and money by avoiding travel, reducing waiting room times, and fitting appointments into daily life more easily. It’s also cost-effective, cutting transportation costs and often reducing indirect costs like time off work or childcare.
3. Continuity of Care
For individuals with chronic conditions, mental health needs, or those requiring regular monitoring, telehealth supports ongoing engagement with healthcare providers without disrupting daily routines. This continuity can lead to better health outcomes.
4. System-wide Efficiency
Telehealth can relieve pressure on hospitals and clinics by managing mild conditions remotely, facilitating follow-ups, and triaging care needs efficiently. It also supports hybrid models where in-person and virtual care complement one another.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite its growth, telehealth faces several challenges that need careful consideration:
Digital Divide & Connectivity:
Not all Australians have access to reliable high-speed internet. This digital gap disproportionately affects rural communities and older patients, limiting their ability to benefit from virtual care.
Technology and Literacy Barriers:
Telehealth often requires basic technological familiarity. Some patients—especially the elderly or those unfamiliar with digital tools—may find video platforms daunting, leading to reliance on phone consultations, which might not deliver the same clinical depth.
Quality and Safety Concerns:
Rapid implementation during the pandemic sometimes compromised cybersecurity or platform privacy standards. Ensuring secure, patient-centred digital environments remains critical for maintaining trust and protecting sensitive health information.
Equity Issues in Mental Health:
Research has suggested that telehealth expansion in mental health may sometimes disproportionately benefit more affluent regions, potentially exacerbating disparities in underserved communities when resources are limited.
Regulatory and Ethical Oversight:
Recent updates to telehealth guidance by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) emphasise clinicians’ responsibilities when using digital tools, especially AI or automated services. Practitioners must ensure patients understand when they aren’t engaging with a registered health professional.
The Future of Telehealth in Australia
Looking ahead, telehealth is poised to continue evolving beyond its pandemic-driven uptake. Hybrid care models—where digital and in-person services coexist—are becoming standard practice, especially for chronic disease management, mental health support, and follow-up care. Telehealth is part of broader digital health transformation initiatives backed by government investment, including integration with electronic prescribing and secure health records.
However, for telehealth to realise its full potential, policymakers and healthcare providers must address digital inequality, strengthen privacy safeguards, and ensure equitable access across all sectors of the population. Only then can telehealth fully bridge gaps in the Australian healthcare landscape and make quality care truly universal.
In summary, telehealth in Australia has come a long way—from a marginal, rural-focused practice to a mainstream, widely accepted healthcare delivery mode. Its rapid growth, catalysed by policy change and necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates the transformative power of technology in health. While challenges remain, telehealth’s potential to enhance access, affordability, and continuity of care points to a future where digital health is an integral part of everyday clinical practice.
